Ifyouareanewreader,welcome!OurmonthlyIn Touche-newsletterisyourgotosourceforthelatest updatesfromtheNationalKidneyFederation.
Whetheryou’reapatient,familymembera healthcareprofessionalorasupporter,this newsletterisdesignedtokeepyouinformedand connected.
Eachmonth,wesharethelatestupdatesintherenal world,highlightupcomingeventsandcampaigns andprovideupdatesontheworkwe’redoingto supportkidneypatientsacrosstheUK.
News:2-8 HelplineInformation:9 PatientInvolvement:10 Fundraising:11-14
WerecentlyhostedourAnnualEventonthe weekendof11 -12 October2025.Heldatthe HiltonHotel,EastMidlandsAirport,theevent broughttogetherpatients,families,and healthcareprofessionalsfromacrosstheUK. th th
Theeventfeaturedpresentationsfrom professionalandpatientguestspeakerswho discussedvarioustopics,including collaborativeworkingtoimprovedialysis patientoutcomes,thelowsandhighsof dialysisasayoungadult,alivingdonorstory, navigatingyournumbersinkidneydisease andsomuchmore.
Attendeesalsohadthechancetoconnect withpeers,buildnewrelationships,and receivesupportinasocialkidneycommunity setting.
Overall,theweekendwasagreatsuccessand weweresopleasedallofourattendees enjoyedtheevent!
Recordingsfromthedayarenowavailable towatchondemand.
TofindoutmoreaboutourrecentAnnual Eventandexplorehighlightsfromtheday,be suretolookoutfortheupcomingWinterissue ofKidneyLifemagazine.
Ifyouattendedtheevent,pleasedon’tforget toshareyourfeedback.Linkstothe feedbackformscanbefoundontheAnnual Eventpageonourwebsite.
I have been to the NKF Annual Event many times and always enjoy the weekend, particularly meeting other people from the kidney community.
The guest speakers were excellent! I look forward to next year’s event.
Catchupontheday,relivethe highlights,andshareyourthoughts:
ThiswebinarishostedbyYukoIshidaBSc(Hons) MScRDSpecialistDiabetesDietitianGreater GlasgowandClydeNHS,YukoisalsotheCreator ofrenaldietaryvideosthathelppatientswith theirdietsandwhatfoodsaregoodandbadto eat.YukowillalsobejoinedbyHattieStiff,NKF Ambassadortodiscussherexperiencewitha renaldiet.
Thiswebinarwillfocusonbothdiabeticand kidneypatientsaimingtohelpwithan understandingondiet,whatisbestforthemand howtomanagetheirconditions.
Toreserveyourfree placetoourwebinar, signuphere:
www.kidney.org.uk/Event/ nkf-webinar-series
Tosubscribetothe NKFYouTubeChannel visit: www.youtube.com/@nation
OnSunday,14September,agroupcomprising staff,family,andfriendsfromthe NorthamptonandKetteringDialysisUnits cametogethertoclimbKinderScoutinthe picturesquePeakDistrict.Theireffortswerein supportoftheNorthamptonshireKidney PatientsAssociation,demonstratingtheir commitmenttobothcommunityandcause.
At09:30,twentyfivewalkersassembledatthe Edalecarpark,filledwithanticipationforthe adventureahead.Edale,adelightfulvillage surroundedbyrollinghillsandhometotwo welcomingpubs,provedtobetheperfect startingpointfortheday'schallenge.
Theroutekickedoffwithasteepascent immediatelyuponleavingthevillage,winding acrossdiverseterraininthedirectionof GrindslowKnob.Thegrouppressedontowards thewindsweptKinderPlateau.Fortunately,the weatherremainedpleasant,defying predictionsofheavyrain,andtheteam'sspirits stayedhighthroughouttheclimb.
Withparticipantsofvaryingwalkingabilities, theclimbrequireddeterminationandmutual support.Everyoneencouragedeachotherup thedifficultinclines,ensuringnoonewasleft behind.Uponreachingthehighpoint,thegroup pausedtotakeinthepanoramicviews,andto sharetheirpackedlunches.
Descendingjustintime,theteamreturnedto Edalejustbeforetherainfinallyarrived.Their hardworkwasrewardedwithawell-deserved drinkatTheRamblerInn,bringingthedaytoa fittingcloseinclassicPeakDistrictfashion.
Notonlydidthegroupsuccessfullyclimb KinderScout,buttheyalsoraisedover£3,000 fortheNorthamptonshireKidneyPatients Associationafantasticaccomplishmentthat isatestamenttoteamwork,determination, andcommunity.
OnSunday3rdAugust2025,patientsandstaff fromtheNorthamptonandKetteringDialysis Unitsenjoyedamuchanticipateddaytripto Skegness,travellingtogetherbycoachwith34 peopleonboard.
Despitethelessthanperfectweather,spiritswere highasthegroupmadethemostofeverything theseasidetownhadtooffer.Familiesexplored thefunfair,indulgedinsomeshopping,and enjoyedlongwalksalongKingCharlesIII’s coastalpath.
Intrueholidayspirit,afewofthechildreneven bravedaswiminthesea,addingtotheday’s senseofadventure.
ThetripwasarrangedbyMichelleWritingand supportedbytheNorthamptonshireKidney PatientsAssociation,whoseeffortshelpedmake thedayasuccess.Theoutingprovidedpatients, families,andstaffwithawelcomechanceto relax,connect,andenjoyabreakfromroutine.
Thedayendedwithsmilesallround, provingthat,rainorshine,thesimple joyofseasidetraditionsneverfailsto bringpeopletogether.
DavePrice NorthamptonshireKPAOfficer
Formoreinformationabout NorthamptonshireKPAcontact: DavePrice,daveprice718@gmail.com
AreyoufromtheNottinghamareaandpassionateabouthelpingothersaffectedbykidney disease?NottinghamandNottsKidneyPatientAssociationarelookingfornewpeopleto jointheirKPAtohelpsupportthevitalworktheydoforkidneypatients,theirfamiliesand friendsacrosstheNottinghamarea.
FromFebruary2026,theKPAwillalsobelookingforvolunteerstotakeonthreekeyroles: -Chairperson -HolidayHomeCoordinator -Secretary
Thesearevoluntarypositions,buttheyareessentialtokeeptheKPArunningand maintained.Withoutnewsupport,theKPAandholidayhomemaysadlyfacecomingtoan end–somethingnoneofuswanttoseehappen.
IfyouorsomeoneyouknowintheNottinghamareaisaffectedbykidneydiseaseand wouldliketogetinvolvedorfindoutmorepleasegetintouchwithChrisTalbot, chris@kidney.org.ukorcall07908845713
AreyouakidneypatientintheSheffieldarea?
TheSheffieldKidneyInstitutearehostinganopening eveningon24 Octoberfrom4pm-6pm,attheSorby KidneyInstituteRenalOutpatientsDepartment,todiscuss medication,learnhowtomanageyourmedicinesandstay well.
Theeventwillbehostedbypre-dialysisnursesGwyn SomersandDebbieDouglas.NKFHelplineAdvisor,Linda Pickering,willalsobeinattendancewithmedicationand dialysisleaflets.
Whyattend?
Gainknowledgeforyouandyourfamily
Empoweryourselftomanageyourcondition
Makeinformedchoicesaboutyourcare
Buildapositiveapproachtokidneyhealth
Refreshmentswillbeavailable.
Toattendtheopenevening,pleasecontactyourlocal SheffieldKidneyNurseSpecialiston01142269390/2266934
NKFPolicyandPublicAffairsManager,LucyVasiliou, attendedtheLabourPartyConferenceafewweeksago. Reflectingonthevisit,Lucycommented;
“Ihadareallyinterestingcoupleofdaysatthe conference,representingtheNationalKidneyFederation, attendinganumberofpreventionfocusedfringeson waysthathealthcarecanshifttowardsprevention,what isvitalforittosucceedandthinkingaboutwhat devolutionmightmeanforcommunitiesandimproved healthcare.Themessagewasclearthatapproaches mustbepatientled,thatpartnershipworkingiskeyand thathealthmustbeviewedholisticallywithwidersocial determinants.
TherewaspositivityfromtheSecretaryofStateforHealth andSocialCare,WesStreetingtoworkwiththekidney communityandraiseawarenesstokidneydisease.Ihope thismarksastepforwardinworkingcloselywiththe Departmenttoensurethatkidneydiseaseisprioritisedin nationalstrategyandtheNationalKidneyFederationwill continuetostriveforkidneypatientsandtheirfamiliesto beattheheartofthisdiscussion.”
ThegrouphelptodriveandstrengthenpatientandpublicinvolvementwithinKidneyResearch UKandhelpinfluencechangeexternally,byattendingintogroupmeetingseveryothermonth, actingasacharityambassadorateventsandengagingwiththecharitytoadviseonprojects suchaspolicy,marketingorcommunications.
Theleadwillneedtochairthegroupmeetingseveryothermonth,activelyleadtheworkofthe group,workalongsidethepatientinvolvementteamtoidentifyPPIopportunitiesanddevelop interactionwiththeBoardofTrusteesbysittingasapermanentobserveratTrusteemeetings.
Youcanfindthefullroledescriptionhere: www.kidneyresearchuk.org/.../lay-advisory-group-lead
Ifyouareinterestedinapplyingpleaseemailyourexpressionofinterestto patients@kidneyresearchuk.orgbyFriday17October.Pleaseincludeasmuchdetailas possibleonyourconnectiontokidneydisease,relevantexperienceofchairingorleadinga grouporcommitteeandwhyyouwouldliketobeourlead.Wewillbeholdinginperson interviewsmidOctoberinPeterborough.
OrgandonorsfromHarrowwerecelebratedat amovingceremonyhostedbytheMayorof Harrow,CouncillorAnjanaPatel.Theeventin theMayor’sParlouron24Septembermarked OrganDonationWeekwithapowerfulmessage: everydonorisahero.
Theceremonyhonouredtwofamilieswhose lovedonesgavethegiftoflifethroughorgan donationafterdeath,aswellassixindividuals whohavedonatedakidneywhileliving.
OrganisedbytheMayorinpartnershipwiththe NationalBAMETransplantAlliance(NBTA),and supportedbyNHSBloodandTransplantand theNHS,theeventspotlightedtheurgentneed formoredonorsandtheincredibleimpactof thosewhostepforward.
CllrAnjanaPatelsaid“Itisincrediblyimportant thatwemarkOrganDonationWeekand recognisetheselflessactsofthosewhohave giventhegiftoflife.Itwasaprivilegeto celebratetheseremarkableindividualsand theirfamilies.”
Nationalfiguresrevealasoberingreality:the organtransplantwaitinglistisatitshighest, withonepersondyingeverydaywhilewaiting forasuitabledonor.InHarrowalone,61patients arecurrentlywaiting-mostinneedofakidney. While11Harrowresidentsreceivedtransplants in2025/26,only27%oflocalsareregisteredto donatetheirorganafterdeathontheOrgan DonorRegister.
KiritModi,MBE,HonPresidentofNBTA,anda Harrowresident,said:
“WeurgentlyneedmoreHarrowresidentsto signtheorgandonorregisterandtohelpsave lives.Mostofuswouldacceptanorganifwe neededone.Wearedelightedtohonourthe Harrowdonorfamiliesanddonorstoday.We hopetheirpowerfulstorieswillencouragemore peopletoregisterontheOrganDonorRegister.”
“Ithasbeenapleasuretoworkwiththe MayorofHarrowtopromoteorgan donation,andIammostgratefultoCllr AnjanaPatelforheramazingsupport.”
Theeventfeaturedinspiringtalksfrom healthcareprofessionalsandcommunity leaderswhohavelongchampioned organdonation.Speakersincluded:
LauraKendall,SpecialistNursefor OrganDonationatNorthwickPark Hospital
HarvinderDulku,LivingKidneyDonor CoordinatoratHammersmithHospital
DrDelaIdowu,FounderofGiftofLife Donation(GOLD)
ManharMehta,ChairmanofVanik CouncilUK(VCUK)
PrafulaShah,ChairoftheJainand HinduOrganDonationAlliance (JHOD)
Theirstoriesandadvocacyunderscored asharedmission:tobuildawareness, breakdownbarriers,andencourage morepeopletosayyestoorgan donation.
Toreadthefullarticleplease
Urinarytractinfections(UTIs)areverycommon conditions.Theycansometimesharmyour kidneysifuntreated.
WhatistheUrinaryTract?
Theurinarysystem(alsocalledthe“urinary tract”)isthepartofyourbodythatmakesurine.It ismadeupoftwokidneys,theureters,the bladder,andtheurethra.
Howisurinemade?
Yourkidneysmakeurinebyremovingwaste productsandextrawaterfromyourblood.The urinetravelsfromyourkidneysthroughtwothin tubescalledureters,andthenfillsthebladder.
Whatisaurinarytractinfection?
Aurinarytractinfection(alsocalleda“UTI”)is whathappenswhenbacteria(germs)getinto theurinarysystemandcauseinflammationinthe bladder.
ArecertainpeoplemorelikelytogetUTIs?
WomengetUTIsmuchmoreoftenthanmen.
Peoplewithdiabetesmayhavechangesin theirbodies'defencesystem,makingiteasier togeturinaryinfections.
Peoplewithblockagesintheirurinarytract, suchasakidneystone,aremorelikelytoget urinaryinfections.
Peoplewhotakemedicationtosuppressthe immunesystem.
WhatarethesymptomsofaUTI?
Anurgentneedtourinate,oftenwithonlya fewdropsofurinetopass. Aburningorstingingfeelingduringurination. Anachingfeeling,pressureorpaininthe lowerabdomen.
Cloudyorblood-tingedurine. Astrongodourtotheurine.
Iftheinfectionspreadstothekidneys andbecomesmoreserious,youmay alsohave: aininthelowerback everandchills auseaandvomiting
Seeyourdoctorrightawayifyou haveanyofthesesymptoms
HowareUTIstreated?
UTIsaretreatedwithantibiotics. Antibioticsaremedicinesthatdestroy bacteriaandstopthemfromgrowing. Youmaybetoldtotakethe antibioticsfor3-7daysifthebacteria arejustinthebladder,butforlonger periodsforkidneyinfections..
Cananythingbedonetohelp preventUTIs?
Drinkplentyoffluids,butonlyif youaren’tonafluidrestriction. Donotpostponegoingtothe bathroom.
Avoidusingscentedsoapsor bubblebath
SomepeoplefindD-Mannose(a sugaryoucanbuyinhealthfood shops)andCranberry supplementshelpful.Talktoyour doctororpharmacistaboutthese.
Torequestthisleafletinfullplease contactthehelplineemail helpline@kidney.org.uk orcall 08001690936
Thereareover150patientinformation leafletsintheNKFHelplineLibraryfor afulllistoftitlesemail helpline@kidney.org.uk orvisit: www.kidney.org.uk/ helpline-leaflets
Currentlythereare52KidneyPatientAssociations(KPAs) whoaremembersoftheNKF.Pleasefindthedetails belowoftheKPAsavailableorformoreinformationplease contacttheNKFofficeon01909544999oremail chris@kidney.org.uk.
IfyouareaKPAthatwouldliketobecomeanNKFmember, pleasecontactchris@kidney.org.ukorcall07908845713.
WeareproudastheNKFtosupportKPAsandtobethe patientvoiceacrosstheUK.
FindyourlocalKPAtoday: www.kidney.org.uk/kidney-patient-associations
Discoveropportunitiestoshareyourexperienceand supportkidneyresearch.
TheNKFhavecreatedapageonlinewhereyoucan exploreallthecurrentopportunitiestotakepartin studies,surveysandinterviewsrunbyhealthcare professionalsandmedicalstudents.
Theseprojectsaimtodeepenunderstandingofkidney diseaseandyourinsightscouldmakearealdifference.
Exploretheopportunitiesavailablenow: https://bit.ly/patientparticipationopportunities
Thankyoutoallwhohavealready supportedusbypurchasingfromour Christmascollection,we’vekepttheprices thesamethisyearforanyonewhois interestedinmakingafestivepurchase.
Choosefromavarietyofsimple,festive designssuitableforsendingtofamily, friendsandcolleagues.Allproceedsfrom thesaleofthesecardscontributedirectlyto theworkoftheNKF.
TheNKF2026calendarisapracticalwayto stayorganisedwhileshowingyourongoing supportforpeopleaffectedbykidney disease.Thisisaspecialrenalcartoon calendar,eachcartoonwasdrawnbythe latePeteQuaife,whowasthefounder memberofthe60’sbandTheKinks,he battledkidneydiseaseformanyyears,but alwayssawthelightersideofCKD.
HereattheNKF,wearefortunatetohave accesstocharityplacesinawiderangeof runningeventsacrosstheUK.Whetherit’sa 10k,halfmarathon,orafullmarathon,there’s somethingforeveryone–andeverystepyou takewillhelpsupportkidneypatientsand theirfamilies.
Ifyouknowsomeonewhowouldliketotake partinanyofthesefantasticevents,we’d lovetohearfromthem!Runnerswill receive:
AnofficialNKFrunningvest
Fullsupportandencouragementfrom ourfundraisingteam
Theknowledgethattheyaremakinga realdifferenceforkidneypatientsacross thecountry
Formoredetails,pleasecontact pete@kidney.org.ukorfollowtheevent linksbelow.
JoinTeamNKFtoday!
th
AintreeHalfMarathon14 Dec
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/aintreehalf-marathon-14th-december-2025
BirminghamRunningFestival,Half Marathon,Jan11 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/birmingha m-running-festival-half-marathon-11thjanuary-2026 th
Newcastle10KJan17th2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/newcastle10k-17th-january-2026
LeicesterHalfMarathonFeb22 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/leiceste rshire-half-marathon-22nd-february2026
CambridgeHalfMarathon,March8 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/cambri dge-half-marathon-8th-march-2026 th
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KetteringHalfMarathon,March8 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/ketterin g-half-marathon-8th-march-2026
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Chester10K,March8 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/mbnachester-8th-march-2026
HamptonCourtPalaceHalfMarathon, March15 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/hampt on-court-palace-half-marathon-15thmarch-2026
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BrightonMarathon,April12 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/thebrighton-marathon-12th-april-2026
ManchesterMarathon,April19 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/manch ester-marathon-19th-april-2026 th
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LeedsMarathon,May10 2026
https://www.kidney.org.uk/Event/leedsmarathon-10th-may-2026
Toexploremoreeventsavailablevisit: https://www.kidney.org.uk/Pages/Events /Category/event?Take=23
You'll get a 10% off voucher to spend on our online shop. Plus, exclusive member discount days.
Be the first to know about upcoming sales, events, and more...
You'll receive exclusive invites to our NKF special events. Plus, exclusive discounted rates to our Annual NKF Event.
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Together we’re stronger. Help us recognise and support local voices.
Together, we can bring hope and support to kidney patients and their families across the UK. Join now https://bit.ly/nkfmembership